94.40(2)(2) The Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association, a nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of this state, in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the department, shall be the certifying agency for the certification of agricultural seed and vegetable seed in the state.

94.40(3)(3) The Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association, in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the department, shall establish standards and procedures for the certification of agricultural seed and vegetable seed, subject to approval of the department. Standards and procedures established under this subsection shall comply with rules promulgated by the department and be no less stringent than those prescribed by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies.

94.40(4)(4) The Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association, in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the department, shall be the certifying agency for the certification of weed free mulch, hay, and straw, and shall base its certifications on the standards of the North American Weed Management Association.

94.41(1)(1) It is unlawful for any person to sell, distribute or offer or expose for sale any agricultural or vegetable seed:

94.41(1)(a)(a) Unless the test to determine the percentage of germination required by the department by rule is completed within a 12-month period immediately prior to the end of the month in which the seed is sold, distributed or offered or exposed for sale, except that seed packaged in hermetically sealed containers may be sold, distributed or offered or exposed for sale under any conditions that the department prescribes by rule, for a period of 36 months following the end of the month in which the seed is tested. No seed in hermetically sealed containers may be sold, distributed or offered or exposed for sale beyond that 36-month period unless it is retested within the 9-month period immediately prior to the end of the month in which it is sold, distributed, or offered or exposed for sale and the retested seed is labeled with the extended expiration date.

94.41(1)(b)(b) Not labeled in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, or containing any labeling statements which modify or deny label information required under rules promulgated by the department, or having any other false or misleading labeling.

94.41(1)(c)(c) Pertaining to which there has been a false or misleading advertisement, claim or representation.

94.41(1)(d)(d) Containing prohibited noxious weed seeds in excess of tolerances established by rules of the department.

94.41(1)(h)(h) Represented to be certified seed by means of any labeling, advertisement or other representations unless it is certified and bears an official certification label.

94.41(1)(i)(i) Having attached thereto a blue label, unless such label is an official certification label authorized for use on such seed by a seed certifying agency.

94.41(1)(j)(j) When the inoculum applied to preinoculated seed is ineffective as determined by standards established by rules of the department.

94.41(1)(k)(k) Not certified by an official seed certifying agency, if labeled under the variety name of a variety of seed which is protected by and can only be sold as a class of certified seed under a certificate of plant variety protection issued under the federal plant variety protection act (7 USC 2321 et. seq.), provided that seed from a certified lot may be labeled as to variety name when used in a mixture by, or with the approval of, the owner of the variety.

94.41(2)(a)(a) To detach, alter, deface or destroy any label attached to or accompanying seed, or to alter or substitute seed in a manner which would defeat the purposes of the rules of the department relating to the labeling of seed or result in the sale or distribution of seed in violation of ss. 94.38 to 94.46 or rules promulgated under those sections.

94.41(2)(b)(b) To disseminate any false or misleading advertisements, or make any false or misleading claims concerning agricultural or vegetable seeds in any manner or by any means.

94.41(2)(c)(c) To hinder or obstruct in any way, any authorized person in the performance of the person's duties under ss. 94.38 to 94.46.

94.41(2)(d)(d) To fail to comply with a "stop sale" order or to make any other disposition of any lot of seed contrary to the provisions of such order.

94.41(2)(e)(e) To use the word "trace" as a substitute for any labeling required under rules of the department relating to the composition of seeds or seed mixtures.

94.41(2)(f)(f) To use the word "type" in any labeling in connection with the name of any agricultural seed variety.

94.41(2)(g)(g) To make a false declaration of gross annual sales on any application for a seed labeler's license or to fail to keep available for inspection by the department accurate records of gross annual sales of seeds sold in this state as a labeler.

94.4294.42
Exemptions. The provisions of ss. 94.38 to 94.46 do not apply to:

94.42(1)(1) Seed or grain not intended for sowing purposes, except where it is made to appear by labeling, advertising or other representations that it is available for purchase or is being sold, distributed or offered or exposed for sale as seed; or where it is represented as being suitable for use as seed by such terms as cleaned, processed, treated, tested, certified or terms of similar import.

94.42(2)(2) To seed in storage in, or being transported or consigned to, a cleaning or processing establishment for cleaning or processing; but any labeling or other representation which may be made with respect to the uncleaned or unprocessed seed shall be subject to ss. 94.38 to 94.46.

94.42(3)(3) Any carrier in respect to any seed delivered or consigned to it by others for transportation in the ordinary course of its business as a carrier.

94.42(4)(4) Any person in respect to any seed sold, distributed or offered or exposed for sale which was incorrectly labeled or represented as to kind, variety or origin, provided that the seeds cannot be identified by examination thereof, unless the person has failed to obtain an invoice, genuine grower's declaration or other labeling information reasonably necessary to insure the seed is as represented.

94.43(1)(1) Every person whose name and address are required to appear on the label of any seed as the labeler or person responsible for the labeling of the seed under the rules of the department relating to the labeling of seed, and every person who opens any bag or container of seed and sells any part of the seed contained therein, shall obtain a seed labeler's license from the department before selling, distributing or offering or exposing, the seed for sale in this state.

94.43(2)(2) No person may sell, distribute or offer or expose for sale in this state any seed not labeled by the holder of a seed labeler's license whose name and address are on the label, except that no license shall be required to sell seed of one's own production if it is delivered to the purchaser only on the farm premises where grown or to sell seed only in bags or other closed containers labeled by the holder of a seed labeler's license. Labels are not required for seed packaged at time of sale at retail by the holder of a seed labeler's license if the bin or other container from which the seed is sold bears a label and the seed with its labeling may be readily examined by the purchaser prior to sale. Seed sold by a licensed labeler under this exception shall be considered as having been sold under his or her label for purposes of computing license fees under sub. (3).

94.43(3)(3) Application for a seed labeler's license shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the department and shall be accompanied by a fee based on the gross sales of seed within the state by the applicant under his or her own label during the previous 12 months prior to filing the application. Fees for a labeler's license shall be computed on gross sales according to the following schedule, except that the department may specify different fees by rule:

94.43(4)(4) The license fee for a new applicant or for a person who did not sell seed under his or her own label during the previous 12 months shall be the minimum fee of $25 for the first year or any part thereof.

94.4494.44
Records. Each person whose name is required to appear on the label as the labeler of agricultural or vegetable seeds under rules of the department shall maintain complete records of each lot of seed sold or labeled for a period of 2 years after final sale or disposition of the seed, except that a file sample of the seed need be kept for only one year and except that this section does not require a record of the sale or disposal of each portion of a lot sold at retail in quantities of less than 40 pounds. All records and samples pertaining to any lot of seed shall be accessible for inspection by the department during customary business hours.

94.45(1)(a)(a) To enter during regular business hours all places of business, warehouses, freight depots, cars, trucks and all other places where seed is stored, transported, sold or exposed for sale. The department is empowered to sample any container of seed, analyze and test the samples and inspect all records relating to any lot of seed in order to secure evidence of violation of ss. 94.38 to 94.46.

94.45(1)(b)(b) To establish and maintain a seed laboratory for the testing and analysis of seed.

94.45(1)(c)(c) To make purity and germination tests of seed for persons on request and for this purpose may prescribe rules governing such testing and fix and collect charges for tests made.

94.45(1)(d)(d) To cooperate with the U.S. department of agriculture and other agencies in seed law enforcement.

94.45(1)(e)(e) To publish at least once a year, in such form as the department deems proper, information concerning the inspection and sales of seed and the results of the analysis of official samples of agricultural and vegetable seeds distributed within the state.

94.45(6)(6) The department shall promulgate rules that do all of the following:

94.45(6)(a)(a) Prescribe standards for the labeling, distribution, and sale of agricultural seed and vegetable seed.

94.46(1)(1) The department may issue a written or printed "stop sale" order to the owner or custodian of any lot of agricultural or vegetable seed not conforming with ss. 94.38 to 94.46, or rules thereunder. The order shall specify the sections of the law or rules violated and shall prohibit the sale or other disposition of the seed except as the department authorizes or directs. Unless the seed is brought into compliance with the law or rules and is released from the "stop sale" order, or other disposition is agreed upon in writing within 30 days after service of the order, the seed shall be disposed of as the department by notice in writing may direct. This shall not preclude the voluntary signing of a disposal agreement without the issuance of a "stop sale" order. Any notice or order hereunder may be served personally or by mail and shall have the effect of a special order under s. 93.18 subject to review under ch. 227 if within 10 days after service of any notice or order, the owner or custodian files with the department a written request for a hearing. Final disposition of the seed shall be stayed during pendency of the hearing but the "stop sale" order shall remain in effect.

94.46(2)(2) Any lot of agricultural or vegetable seed not in compliance with ss. 94.38 to 94.46, or rules thereunder, or not disposed of in accordance with any disposal agreement or order under sub. (1), shall be subject to seizure on complaint of the department to a court of competent jurisdiction. If the court finds the seed to be in violation of law and orders the condemnation of said seed, it shall be denatured, processed, destroyed, relabeled or otherwise disposed of as the court directs.

94.46(3)(3) In addition to or in lieu of other remedies provided for enforcement of ss. 94.38 to 94.46, the department may apply to the circuit court for a temporary or permanent injunction to prevent, restrain, or enjoin any person from violating ss. 94.38 to 94.46 or any rules or orders issued thereunder.

94.46(4)(a)(a) Any person violating ss. 94.38 to 94.46 or rules promulgated thereunder shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $500 for the first offense. For any subsequent offense occurring within 5 years of a previous offense, the person shall forfeit, for each offense, not less than $200 nor more than $1,000. The 5-year period shall be measured from the dates of the violations which resulted in convictions.

94.46(4)(b)(b) Any person who knowingly violates ss. 94.38 to 94.46 or rules promulgated thereunder may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.

94.50(1)(a)(a) "Cultivated ginseng" means ginseng dry root, live root, tissue culture or seed that is grown or nurtured in this state by a person.

94.50(1)(b)(b) "Dealer" means a person who buys cultivated ginseng for the purpose of resale, except that it does not include a person who buys cultivated ginseng dry root solely for the purpose of final retail sale to consumers in the United States.

94.50(1)(d)(d) "Grower" means a person who grows cultivated ginseng and who sells cultivated ginseng to a dealer.

94.50(1)(e)(e) "Out-of-state cultivated ginseng" means ginseng that is grown or nurtured outside this state by a person.

94.50(2)(2)Growers and dealers; registration. No person may act as a grower or a dealer unless he or she is registered with the department. Any person who acts as a dealer and a grower shall register as both. Registrations shall be made annually on a form provided by the department. Registrations expire on December 31 of each year. A dealer, other than an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44, shall pay to the department an annual registration fee of $25. The department shall assign a registration number to each person registered under this subsection. All moneys collected under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.115 (7) (ga).

94.50(3)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (f), no person may sell or ship cultivated ginseng to a dealer or ship cultivated ginseng out of this state unless the cultivated ginseng is accompanied by a valid completed shipment certificate which specifies the year of harvest. The person selling or shipping the cultivated ginseng shall complete a valid shipment certificate provided by the department. The person selling or shipping the cultivated ginseng shall on a valid form provided by the department report to the department within 30 days after the sale or shipment, the source of all of the cultivated ginseng included in the sale or shipment. Each person who completes a shipment certificate or report form shall retain a duplicate copy.

94.50(3)(b)(b) The department shall upon request provide each registered grower and dealer with shipment certificates and report forms required under par. (a). The department shall stamp each shipment certificate and report form with the registration number of the grower or dealer. A shipment certificate and report form is valid only if used during the registration period for which the stamp registration number of the grower or dealer was issued. The department may charge a reasonable fee to recover the costs related to providing shipment certificates and report forms. All moneys collected under this paragraph shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.115 (7) (ga).

94.50(3)(c)(c) No dealer may purchase or receive cultivated ginseng unless it is accompanied by a completed shipment certificate. A dealer shall retain the original copy of each shipment certificate he or she receives.

94.50(3)(d)(d) No dealer may purchase or receive out-of-state cultivated ginseng unless the ginseng is accompanied by a valid written certificate, issued by the state of origin, certifying that the shipment consists solely of out-of-state cultivated ginseng. The certificate shall include the source, year of harvest, and dry weight of the out-of-state cultivated ginseng included in the shipment. A dealer shall retain a copy of each written certificate he or she receives.

94.50(3)(e)(e) No person may import out-of-state cultivated ginseng into this state, unless the imported shipment is accompanied by a valid shipment certificate issued by the state of origin. No person may ship out-of-state cultivated ginseng under a shipment certificate issued by this state.

94.50(3)(f)(f)Paragraph (a) does not apply to a person who sells or ships cultivated ginseng dry root to a person outside of this state who is buying or receiving the cultivated ginseng dry root solely for the purpose of final retail sale to consumers in the United States, if the person selling or shipping keeps a written record of the sale or shipment which shall include all of the following:

2013-14 Wisconsin Statutes updated through 2015 Wis. Act 3 and all Supreme Court Orders entered before April 1, 2015. Published and certified under s. 35.18. Changes effective after April 1, 2015 are designated by NOTES. (Published 4-1-15)